Hear from UMass Boston’s CLA First! program director, Rachel Puopolo:

August 26, 2024

The Program

The CLA First! Learning Community is an innovative program designed to foster academic success and personal growth for first-year students in the College of Liberal Arts. By creating a small, supportive community within the larger university, CLA First! aims to help students build strong academic foundations, achieve personal and professional goals, and engage with the campus community.

The Partnership

To further enhance the CLA First! program, UMass Boston partnered with MentorPRO, a leading provider of mentoring solutions. MentorPRO’s innovative platform and expertise in mentoring enabled CLA First! to streamline matching, improve engagement, and simplify reporting.

Early Results

Over 200 check-Ins have been completed, allowing for mentors to identify early challenges and provide targeted outreach and support.

Academics and career challenges were top of mind during the Spring 2024 semester (i.e., improving grades, building professional networks, finding career resources), validating the need for academic- and career-related advising. In their first academic year, students have collectively sent over 550 messages to their mentors using MentorPRO.

Mentors used MentorPRO’s messaging functionality to share information about CLA First!, including its Start Smart Workshop Series, a series of workshops designed to help first year students find university resources and support networks.

Feedback from CLA First! participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with students praising the program’s ability to create a sense of community and provide valuable resources during the critical transition to college life.Peer mentors have reported increased confidence and leadership skills, while faculty and staff have noted improved student engagement and retention rates among CLA First! participants.

Good News Travels Fast

The partnership continues to expand. While initially designed for only first year students, students who graduated from CLA First!, are preparing for the SophoMORE program, where they will continue to connect with a mentor through MentorPRO into their Sophomore year. It is currently being rolled out during orientation so students have access to peer support in the summer leading up to college.

Based solely on word of mouth, MentorPRO has also expanded to additional programs at UMass Boston, including the entire incoming class of UMass Boston’s College of Management and their three learning communities, as well as to students in certificate programs in the College of Education. UMass Boston and MentorPRO remain committed to refining and enhancing this rollout and to ensuring that all students have access to the support and resources needed to thrive academically and personally.

To learn more about CLA First!, you can reach out Rachel Puopolo at rachel.puopolo@umb.edu.